Finding Home: Kamora Byrd's Journey in Memphis's Tiny House Project

Finding Home

In the heart of Memphis, a groundbreaking housing initiative is transforming lives through innovative solutions to urban living. The experience of Kamora Byrd, 38, has a unique story to share about this community-centered housing approach as the first recipient of the Tiny House project.

Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Kamora moved to Memphis at 16, eventually considering the city her true home.

"I was born in Jackson, but I was raised in Memphis," she explains. Like many residents who have faced housing insecurity, Kamora previously lived in an apartment where she encountered challenges, including restrictions and extra costs related to having a pet.

Meet Kamora

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Reach Out

Her path to the Tiny House project began in 2019 through a connection with her friend Chanel, who introduced her to Kayla, the project's founder. After visiting the first tiny house Kayla had built, Kamora immediately connected with the vision. "I met her at the house. I fell in love with the house. And I've been there ever since then," she shares.

More Than Just Housing

For Kamora, whose hobbies include doing hair and makeup, the tiny house represents far more than shelter—it symbolizes a first. "I never had a house. I never was raised in a house, always in apartments, so I love just being in the house," she emphasizes. This sentiment echoes throughout her story, highlighting how meaningful stable and independent housing can be for someone who hasn't previously experienced it.

The project goes beyond providing physical structures. Kayla and the My Sistah’s House resident fund helped furnish the home, supplied modern appliances, and assisted with utilities. This comprehensive approach to housing support creates a foundation for residents like Kamora to thrive rather than merely survive, and the tiny house design allows for personalization despite its compact footprint. Recognizing Kamora's passion for hair and makeup, Kayla built a shed behind the house where Kamora stores her supplies—a thoughtful addition that supports her interests and ensures she has space to explore her art.

While Kamora maintains a busy schedule that limits her community engagement, she maintains her friendship with Chanel, another tiny house resident. Their connection exemplifies how these housing communities can foster supportive relationships among residents who understand each other's journeys.

A Message of Gratitude

When asked what she would tell future tiny house residents, Kamora's response centers on appreciation: "Kayla's a good person... She does a lot for the community and she really doesn't get a lot back. So you know, if she blesses you with a house, just try to enjoy the opportunity."

Her words reflect the profound impact stable housing has had on her life and the deep gratitude she feels toward Kayla. "I just want to mention how much I love Kayla because I do love her. She's a good friend," Kamora adds, highlighting the human connection at the heart of this housing initiative. Now five years into her tiny house journey, Kamora plans to continue living in her home for the foreseeable future. Perhaps most significantly, she mentions that residents have "the option to buy the home," transforming what began as an innovative housing solution into a pathway to homeownership and generational wealth-building.

The Tiny House project demonstrates how community-centered housing initiatives can address immediate shelter needs while creating opportunities for stability, dignity, and personal growth. Through residents like Kamora, we see the profound impact of having not just housing, but a true home.

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How Executive Orders are Impacting Our Community

By Kayla Gore • February 17, 2025

The Department of Justice's initiative to develop safer, more informed law enforcement interactions with transgender individuals, “Engaging and Building Relationships with Transgender Communities”, has been abruptly terminated, marking an immediate setback for police reform and community safety. Within days of My Sistah’s House being notified of this termination, all mentions of the program and its supporting materials were scrapped from the DOJ website. This program, which engaged expert trainers like Kayla Gore of My Sistah's House, represented a vital step toward addressing documented patterns of over-policing and discriminatory practices affecting transgender individuals, particularly Black trans women. The program's elimination arrives at a particularly critical moment for Memphis and similar communities where DOJ investigations have recently identified systemic issues in policing practices. The training initiative was positioned to serve as a crucial bridge between law enforcement agencies and transgender residents, offering evidence-based protocols for respectful, constitutional interactions. Key Program Elements Now Lost Include: Specialized training developed by subject matter experts from the Transgender community with lived experience Concrete protocols for ensuring dignified and lawful police interactions Direct pathways for implementing DOJ recommendations in cities under review Essential resources for addressing documented patterns of false arrests and detainment The complete removal of these materials from DOJ platforms represents more than a policy shift – it eliminates vital resources that law enforcement agencies in progressive cities were actively seeking to improve community relations and ensure constitutional policing practices. In addition to the complete elimination of this program, the housing rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people are once again being threatened. Secretary Scott Turner has directed the department of Housing and Urban Development to stop enforcing the 2016 Equal Access rule that protected the TLGBQIA+ community from discrimination or intrusive questioning when seeking housing. It remains to be seen whether Congress will support this rollback, but we're ready to jump into action and advocate for our community as soon as more details become clear. We urge those concerned about these developments to: Write a letter expressing your concern to the department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). You can mail it directly to HUD at the address below, or mail it to us at My Sistah’s House, and we will compile comments to submit collectively. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 2694 McGregor Avenue Memphis, TN 38127 Doc ument and report incidents of policing or housing discrimination Support local organizations continuing this vital work Stay informed about and resist additional policy rollbacks affecting transgender communities The sudden dismantling of this program represents a tangible setback for police reform and community safety. However, organizations like My Sistah's House remain committed to advancing the work of creating safer communities for all residents, particularly our most vulnerable neighbors.

A New Home, A New Hope: Meet Janett

January 17, 2025

Meet Janett, a long time advocate for My Sistah’s House and one of our residents that’s made the switch from transitional housing to permanent housing through our work on #MSHTinyHomes. For years, Janett has spent quite a lot of her free time helping us as a volunteer, supporting us on social media and during our shelter period, and sharing her personal story with My Sistah’s House in Memphis. She’s truly a bright light for our team here, and her passion for helping people in need keeps us focused on our mission. To put it simply, Janett is much more than a beloved MSH resident - she’s a constant inspiration to us.

March 2024 Updates from MSH

By Kayla Gore • March 14, 2024

Major Milestones, A Special Thank You, and Our Next Chapter